Printer s lead-cutter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-8heet 1.

J. B. BELL. PRINTERS LEAD CUTTER.

No. 584,664. Patented June.15, 1897.

NlTED STATES PATENT rmcn,

JEROME B. BELL, OF \VILMINGTON, DELAYVARE.

PRINTERS LEAD-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,664, dated June 15, 1897.

7 Application filed December 11, 1896. Serial No. 615,339. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME B. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements-in Printers Lead-Cutters; and I' do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, an d exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in appliances for cutting or trimming printers leads or slugs; and the especial object of my invention is an appliance which will quickly and accurately cut or trim the lines of type or slugs formed by linotype-machines.

In setting up and casting the lines of type in linotype-machines it is frequently necessary to provide for the insertion of cuts, tables of figures, or differentsized types at one side of the ordinary matter set by the machine. This is done by setting the type to the proper width to allow for the cuts and completing or justifying the line to the full width by inserting quads or blanks. Before placing these slugs or lines of type in the printing-form it is necessary to cut off the blank ends formed by the quads, and this has heretofore been done by lead-cutters of ordinary construction, in the use of which it is necessary to adjust the gage to the exact measurement required to allow for the out. As the cuts, tables, or matter set in different sizes of type vary in width a diiferent adj ust- .ment of the gage is required for every operation, thus causing much loss of time and great vexation. It has also been found in the use of these linotype-slugs that the blank portion of the slug sometimes becomes inked by the rollers in the press and an impression is taken 011 the paper, causing an unsightly blur. To prevent such an occurrence, it is necessary to out off the corner of the slug. In my invention I provide for such diagonal cutting in a simple and effective manner.

The construction and operation of my invention are fully set forth in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my improved lead and slug cutter.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cutting-table. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the sliding gage. Fig. 4

is an enlarged view of one end of the sliding gage. Fig. 5 shows the beveled end of the guiding-rib on the table. Fig. 6 is a perspec tive of a modified form of my cutter. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are details of parts of Fig. 6.

Like reference-letters indicate like parts in the views.

In the drawings, A represents the base of a lead cutter or trimmer of common general design, having feet through perforations in which it may be secured to a table or bench. With the base is formed a standard B, in the upper portion of which is pivoted at 00 an operating handle or lever G, and in the lower portion of said standard is pivoted a cutterbar or knife-holder E, the top of which is pivotally connected with the lever O by a link 9. Secured to the bar E is a cutting blade or knife f.

Formed with the base A and at right angles therewith isahorizoutal table D, which forms a support for the slugs or leads and a gage e, which is fitted to and adapted to slide upon a longitudinal rib h of the table D. Said rib is provided with one or more threaded openings h to receive the threaded shank of the set-screw m, which passes through a longitudinal slot 6 in the gage e and by frictional contact with the top of said gage holds it in.

position when set. On the inner end of the gage e is a shoulder a, 011 one side of which is an offset F, having its face flush with the face of the shoulder a. This offset extends at right angles from the side of the gage just the height of the face of the type above the body of the slug, or about a thirty-second of an inch.

When my improved cutter is used to cut the ordinary leads or slugs, the gage is set to the proper measurement and the lead or slug is pushed up against the head or shoulder a and the lever depressed; but when it is desired to cut a linotype-slug having a portion of its upper edge in type-face and a portion blank for the purposes above described it is only necessary to lay the slug with its upper edge to the side of the gage, the latter having first been set so that the face of the shoulder a is flush with the cutting edge of the table,

and push it toward the cutter until the type strikes the offset F, when by depressing the lever C the blank portion of the slug will be cut off close to the type. If it be desired to leave a shoulder on the upper edge of the slug adjacent to the type, it is only necessary to move the gage back from the cutting edge of the table, when the distance between the face of the shoulder a and the cutting edge of the table will be the Width of the shoulder on the slug.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the rib it has its inner end beveled at o, and on the cutting edge of the table D is a small vertical pin 19, set at a distance from the beveled edge or end 0 equal to the width of the slug exclusive of the type-face. lVhen it is desired to cut off the corner of a slug, it is placed-on the table D between the pin 2) and the beveled end 0 and pushed along toward the cutter until the type strikes the pin, when by depressing the lever the corner of the slug will be cut off diagonally, leaving the lower edge of the slug intact, so that it will be tight in the form, while there will be no danger of the upper edge making an impression on the paper to be printed. Another and preferred means of accomplishing this result is to substitute for the pin 19 a flat piece 76 and make a groove '0 on the inner face of the cuttingknife 1, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9. In the use of this modified form of my cutter the slug is pushed along until the type strikes the groove, the latter preventing any injury to the type-face when the lever is depressed.

As will be seen in Fig. 6, the portion of the cutting-blade provided with the groove Q) has a greater diameter vertically than the cutting portion proper of said blade, thus permitting the edge of the type on the slug to enter said groove before the operation of cutting the slug is commenced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cutter for linotype-slu gs a gage constructed and adapted to engage the edge of the projecting type-face and thereby determine the line of cutting, as set forth.

2. In a lead and slug cutter the combination with a base and standard, ofa lever, a cutterbar and a knife secured to the lever, a cuttingtable and a gage adj ustably secured thereto, said gage having an offset for engaging the edge of the projecting type-face of a linotypeslug when the latter is placed in position to be cut, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a lead and slug cutter the combination with a suitable base and standard, of a lever, a cutter-bar and a knife secured to the lever, a cutting-table and a rib secured thereto, a gage adjustably secured to said rib said gage having an offset for engaging the edge of the type-face in the manner and for the purpose described.

4. In a lead and slug cutter the combination with a suitable base and standard, of a lever, a cutter-bar and a knife secured to the lever, a cutting-table and a rib secured thereto, a gage adjustably secured to said table and a stop secured to the table for engaging the edge of the type-face of the slug when the latter is placed in position against said stop, as described.

5. In a lead and slug cutter the combination with a suitable base and standard, of a lever and cutter-bar pivoted to said standard, a knife having a groove for receiving the edge of the type-face, and a cutting-table as described.

6. In a lead and slug cutter the combination with a suitable base and standard, of a lever and cutter-bar, a knife having a groove for receiving the edge of the type-face, a cuttingtable and means for guiding the slug when placed in position to be cut, substantially as set forth.

7. In a lead and slug cutter the combination with a suitable base and standard of a cutterbar, means for operating said bar, a knife having a groove for receiving the edge of the type-face and a cutting-table, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JEROME B. BELL.

Witnesses:

J. Ross CoLHoUN, BEATRICE A. LARMAN. 

